Glenview priest accused of theft is suspended from duties

The Rev. James Dokos

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Rev. James Dokos is accused of writing checks for tens of thousands of dollars to benefit himself, friends and family and to pay his personal credit card bills from the trust that he controlled, but that was set up primarily to benefit a Milwaukee church, according to a criminal complaint prepared by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office.

The Rev. James Dokos is accused of writing checks for tens of thousands of dollars to benefit himself, friends and family and to pay his personal credit card bills from the trust that he controlled, but that was set up primarily to benefit a Milwaukee church, according to a criminal complaint prepared by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

A Greek Orthodox priest accused of improperly spending more than $110,000 from a private trust for shopping trips and upscale dinners has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and suspended from his duties as parish priest at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Glenview, according to church authorities.

The Rev. James Dokos is accused of writing checks for tens of thousands of dollars to benefit himself, friends and family, and to pay his personal credit card bills from the trust that he controlled, but was set up primarily to benefit a Milwaukee church, according to a criminal complaint prepared by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office.

Dokos was a longtime pastor at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee before he was transferred to the Glenview church in 2012.

The District Attorney’s office confirmed last week that it intends to file a charge of Class G felony theft against Dokos for allegedly misappropriating an amount of money exceeding $10,000. Authorities are working with the priest’s lawyer to set a hearing date, said David Feiss, assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County.

Metropolitan Iakovos, the leader of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, released a letter to its members dated Friday that stated "it is with regret that we have been informed that the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office intends to file a criminal complaint against Rev. Father James Dokos.

"In light of these developments and for the benefit of all involved, we are now placing Rev. Dokos on administrative leave effective immediately, suspended from his pastoral and administrative duties as Parish Priest," the letter stated.

On Sunday, Rev. Nick Greanias took the place of Dokos to lead liturgy at the Glenview church.

The allegations against Dokos led to tension at both churches over the past year. Upon learning of the criminal investigation into Dokos’ handling of the fund, members of the lay leadership of the Glenview church sought to have Dokos temporarily removed from their ministry until the probe’s completion. They were rebuked by Metropolis officials, who instead removed the parish council president from his position. Demetrios of Mokissos, the No. 2 ranking official at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, which oversees dozens of churches in several Midwestern states, also sent a letter to the Milwaukee church in August stating that the Metropolis’ own investigation determined that the funds from the trust were spent properly.

On Sunday, Rev. Nick Greanias took the place of Dokos to lead liturgy at the Glenview church.

Jim Gottreich, the former parish council president, described members as “ecstatic” by the new developments.

“I didn’t hear one negative comment,” said Gottreich, who now serves as vice president of the parish council. “The priest that we had filling in, people left the church in tears because they were so overjoyed.”

Metropolis officials plan to meet with the Glenview parish council this week to discuss the assignment of a new priest, according to the letter from Metropolitan Iakovos.

“We are very relieved,” Gottreich said.

Most of the priest’s spending in question occurred between 2008 and 2012, after Dokos signed over the bulk of the trust fund — $1.1 million — to Annunciation Church, according to the criminal complaint.

Milwaukee church leaders, however, told investigators that they were not aware that there was money left over, according to the complaint. The trust called for Dokos to receive $5,000, an automobile and property, and for $20,000 to be distributed among several charities. After that, the “rest, remainder and residue of the Trust Assets were to go to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to be used exclusively for the construction and maintenance of a Cultural Center,” the criminal complaint states.

Arrest and booking photos are provided by law enforcement officials. Arrest does not imply guilt, and criminal charges are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted.